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ZURICH: Sepp Blatter has said FIFA will interview a whistleblower at the centre of newspaper allegations that Qatar paid two members of the executive committee to vote for their bid to host the 2022 World Cup.
“We have organised and the newspaper have agreed (that) we will bring this whistleblower to Zurich and then we will have a discussion, an investigation,” the FIFA president told reporters on Thursday.
Last Tuesday, a British parliamentary inquiry into why England failed to secure the 2018 finals was told by member of parliament Damian Collins there was evidence from the Sunday Times newspaper that Issa Hayatou of Cameroon and Jacques Anouma of the Ivory Coast were paid by Qatar.
Qatar, chosen in December to host the 2022 World Cup ahead of United States, Australia, Japan and South Korea, have categorically denied the allegations.
“I haven't identified the general whistleblower, for the time being, we have no name – if it is man, or woman,” said Blatter.
“It will be the relevant authorities, in FIFA which handles such cases, the secretary general (Jerome Valcke).
“We have to deal with this matter and solve this matter in the Congress.”
Blatter, who stands for re-election against Asian football chief Mohamed Bin Hammam on June 1, insisted that FIFA wanted the matter clarified by the end of next week.
“We must know if the allegations are true or not true or unproven. If they are not true, then this case is over.
“Then we will see which instrument will work, it is of paramount importance that we have this situation clarified on the 27th.”
